The ongoing political discourse surrounding the Yamuna River has intensified as the Delhi Assembly elections approach, with significant allegations exchanged between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

AAP leaders, including National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi, have accused the BJP-led Haryana government of deliberately contaminating the Yamuna with high levels of ammonia, which they describe as “poison”, thereby jeopardising Delhi’s water supply. They assert that ammonia levels have surged to six times above the treatable limit, rendering the water unsafe for consumption and potentially leading to a public health crisis.

In response, Haryana officials, including Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, have vehemently denied these allegations, labelling them as baseless and politically motivated. They argue that the AAP is deflecting blame for its own failures in managing Delhi’s water supply.

The Delhi Jal Board has also intervened, refuting AAP’s claims and stating that ammonia levels fluctuate seasonally due to natural and industrial factors.

This contentious issue has escalated to the point where the Haryana government is considering legal action against Kejriwal for his remarks. As the election date of February 5, 2025, approaches, the debate over the Yamuna’s water quality has also become a focal point of political contention, with both parties leveraging the situation to galvanise their respective voter bases.

Jargon

Viewpoints 💭

  • AAP accuses the BJP-led Haryana government of deliberately contaminating the Yamuna River with high ammonia levels, framing it as a political tactic to disrupt Delhi’s water supply ahead of elections.
  • Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders describe the contamination as ‘biological warfare’, warning of severe health risks and potential mass casualties if the water crisis is not addressed.
  • AAP leaders argue that the BJP’s actions are politically motivated, aiming to create chaos and then blaming AAP for water mismanagement in Delhi.
  • The AAP emphasises the need for immediate intervention by the Election Commission to prevent the alleged ‘water terrorism’ from affecting the fairness of the upcoming elections.
  • AAP claims that the Delhi Jal Board’s capacity to treat the contaminated water is overwhelmed, and they accuse the BJP of pressuring officials to downplay the severity of the issue.
  • The left, represented by AAP, frames the issue as a deliberate act of sabotage by the BJP to undermine Delhi’s governance, emphasising the need for electoral fairness and public health protection, while the right, represented by BJP, views it as a baseless political manoeuvre by AAP to distract from its own administrative shortcomings.
  • AAP’s narrative of ‘biological warfare’ and ‘water terrorism’ reflects a left-wing emphasis on environmental justice and public safety, contrasting with the BJP’s right-wing’s dismissing the allegations as fear-mongering.
  • The left accuses the BJP of using state machinery to manipulate election outcomes, advocating for intervention by central institutions like the Election Commission, whereas the right defends the independence of these institutions and accuses AAP of undermining their credibility for political gain.
  • The BJP and Haryana officials strongly deny AAP’s allegations, labelling them as baseless and politically motivated attempts to deflect blame for Delhi’s water management issues.
  • Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other BJP leaders emphasise the cultural significance of the Yamuna and refute claims of intentional contamination, suggesting the problem lies within Delhi’s water distribution system.
  • The BJP accuses AAP of spreading misinformation and fear-mongering to gain electoral advantage, with Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav criticising AAP for violating the Model Code of Conduct.
  • Haryana plans to take legal action against Arvind Kejriwal for defamation, asserting that the accusations harm interstate relations and are part of AAP’s diversion tactics.
  • The BJP highlights AAP’s failure to fulfil promises of cleaning the Yamuna despite significant resources, using public stunts to criticise AAP’s governance.

Prominent Voices 📣

  • Arvind Kejriwal (AAP Chief ): Repeatedly accused the BJP-led Haryana government of deliberately contaminating the Yamuna with ammonia, likening it to ‘biological warfare’ and ‘water terrorism’ to disrupt Delhi’s water supply and influence elections. 1 2
  • Atishi (Delhi Chief Minister): Consistently raised alarms about high ammonia levels in the Yamuna, accusing the BJP of ‘water terrorism’ and seeking intervention from the Election Commission to address the issue. 2 3
  • Bhagwant Mann (Punjab Chief Minister): Supported the AAP’s stance on the Yamuna contamination issue, engaging with the Election Commission to address the alleged pollution. 4 5
  • Priyanka Kakkar (AAP Spokesperson): Accused the BJP of engaging in ‘dirty politics’ by supplying ammonia-contaminated water to Delhi, framing it as a deliberate act to disrupt the city’s water supply. 6 7
  • Amit Shah (Union Home Minister): Mocked Kejriwal’s unfulfilled promise to clean the Yamuna, suggesting he take a dip in the river. 8 9
  • Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana Chief Minister): Vehemently denied AAP’s allegations, attributing water issues to Delhi’s distribution system, and criticised Kejriwal for making baseless claims, threatening legal action. 10 11
  • Shilpa Shinde (Delhi Jal Board CEO): Dismissed AAP’s claims as misleading, emphasising the natural seasonal rise in ammonia levels and the DJB’s capability to manage them. 2 11
  • Anil Vij (Haryana Labour Minister): Criticised Kejriwal, labelling him a ‘factory of lies’ and accused him of failing to manage Delhi’s water cleanliness. 9 12
  • Virendra Sachdeva (Delhi BJP President): Accused Kejriwal of using scare tactics due to election fears and challenged him to take a dip in the Yamuna to prove his claims. 2 13
  • Parvesh Verma (BJP Candidate from New Delhi): Suggested that Kejriwal’s allegations are a result of fear of losing the upcoming elections and criticized AAP for failing to clean the Yamuna. 14 8

Sources 📚

1
India TodayHaryana water department official dismisses AAP’s ‘poison in Yamuna’ claim
2
The Times of IndiaBJP is ‘plotting to kill Delhiites’ by mixing poison in Yamuna: Arvind Kejriwal
3
Deccan HeraldDelhi Assembly Elections 2025 | Atishi flags toxic Yamuna water issue again, seeks Election Commission’s intervention
4
NDTVVideo | Congress vs AAP vs BJP Over ‘Yamuna Poisoning’ Claim
5
News18Delhi Election 2025 LIVE: Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi Launch Attack On Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal’
6
DevdiscourseAAP Accuses BJP of Poisoning Delhi’s Water Supply
7
Mint‘Factually incorrect…misleading’: Delhi Jal Board CEO rebukes Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘poison in Yamuna’ claim
8
News9 LIVEDelhi elections: AAP vs BJP showdown over Yamuna pollution | Explained
9
NDTVCongress vs AAP vs BJP Over ‘Yamuna Poisoning’ Claim
10
India TodayBJP to sue Arvind Kejriwal over Yamuna poisoning claim; hang me, he says
11
Jagran EnglishAAP-BJP ‘Water War’: Kejriwal’s ‘Poisoning Yamuna’ Charge On Haryana Fact-Checked By Jal Board; Atishi To Meet EC
12
The Times of India‘Are they trying to kill people of Delhi’: CM Atishi backs Kejriwal in accusing BJP for Delhi’s ‘poisonou
13
ABP LiveHaryana CM Nayab Saini Meets ECI After AAP’s Complaint On ‘Poisonous’ Ammonia In Yamuna Water
14
LatestLYBJP Wants To Kill Delhiites by Mixing Poison in Yamuna, Alleges Arvind Kejriwal; Saffron Party Threatens To

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